Monday, March 25, 2013

Hank, I sold the Cub you rebuilt after 2 years of easy, fun ownership. I did a few things to it; replaced the gascolator with a new Steve’s gascolator, replaced the old fuel shutoff valve with a new one after the old one began to leak, replaced a tube on one of the main landing gear tires, replaced the instrument panel with an authentic 1941 panel and three or four of the gauges with new ones, installed a new Sensenich wood prop, replaced the front seat canvas seat sling, broke in the engine properly and changed its oil regularly and generally kept the airplane hangared, clean and maintained during my tenure as its custodian. There were some other things but I don’t remember them right offhand – the airplane and engine never gave me a moment’s worry and even though it’s time to turn to other projects, I’m having to work a little to put this Cub out of my mind.

When Brad and I first talked I could tell he was going to be a good Cub Owner and, later on, when I met Jim, his Dad, over the phone I knew why. We kept in touch over a couple of months and when the time came to hand it over, Bill and Casey flew down to Florida with Charlie and I had to say goodbye to a good friend.

I told you all of this when I saw you last weekend, when I brought you the oil tank for a Continental engine after the Back Achers Fly-In. I know you said at the age of 91 you might be ready to get away from aviation … but I thought you’d like to see Bill and Casey waving goodbye as they left Bob White Field for South Carolina. Bill owned a Cub before and was right at home in it.

Good airplanes leave you with good memories, and this one was a good one. You did a good job on it.